DENTISTNGAIO NIHO

DR TIHEMA NICOL Nō Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Ngāti Whātua | Ngāpuhi

A dentist treats and cares for teeth and associated oral structures. Dentistry work is

mainly concerned with tooth decay, disease of the supporting structures, such as gums and

faulty positioning of the teeth.

WHAT IS A DENTIST? A dentist treats and cares for teeth and associated oral structures. Dentistry work is mainly concerned with tooth decay, disease of the supporting structures, such as gums and faulty positioning of the teeth. Like medicine and surgery, it is practiced in specialised fields:

• Oral surgery

• Orthodontics (corrective dentistry)

• Periodontics (diseases of the gums)

• Prosthodontics (partial or total tooth replacement)

• Endodontics (treatment of dental pulp chamber and canals)

• Pedodontics (dental problems of children).

• They also educate whānau on how to avoid oral health problems

WHERE DO DENTISTS WORK?Most graduates in Dentistry enter general practice on their own or in association with others. Some undertake postgraduate study and research training. Others enter specialist practice after obtaining further experience and completing postgraduate clinical qualifications.

WHAT TRAINING IS INVOLVED?• Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree

This is a five-year university qualification available only from Otago University. You must pass all first-year health science papers before being accepted into the four-year dentistry programme.

WHAT CLASSES SHOULD I TAKE NOW?Useful subjects include and NCEA Level 3 is required to enter further training:

• Maths

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Te Reo Māori

• English